Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail - Review

When talking about bicycle frames, the term “handmade in America” typically conjures up images of intricately lugged steel 29ers, one-off creations built by artisans who have decades long waiting lists of customers eager to remortgage their homes in order to purchase a modern antique for themselves. Based in Denver, Colorado, Guerrilla Gravity takes that notion and crushes it like an empty can of Pabst Blue Ribbon – they've built their company on the idea that bikes made in the United States don't need to be exorbitantly expensive, or excessively fancy for that matter.

The Megatrail is their latest creation, a bike that takes the long and low geometry of the company's downhill bike and puts it into a more pedaling-friendly package. Available with 26” or 27.5” wheels in sizes XS-XL, the aluminum-framed Megatrail can be switched between 150 or 160mm of travel, a change that also alters the head angle and bottom bracket height. Guerrilla Gravity offers multiple build kit options, with complete bikes starting at $3995 USD and the frame only going for $1925. As configured, our test bike comes in at $4845.

The Megatrail has a decidedly utilitarian look, with only a few curves to be found on the raw aluminum frame. A full 1.5” headtube adds to its brawny appearance, as does the downtube gusset and the large diameter tubing used for the front triangle. Our test bike didn't come with ISCG tabs, but this has since been changed, and they are now included as a standard feature. Pressfit bottom brackets continue to gain in popularity, so it's refreshing to see a traditional threaded bottom bracket on the Megatrail, a design choice Guerrilla Gravity made to decrease the likelihood of the bike developing annoying creaks or groans.

A Syntace 12x142 thru axle keeps the rear wheel secure, and beefy clevis style pivots are used to join the seat and chain stays.

The full 1.5" headtube adds to the Megatrail's ready-for-anything look.

Internal cable routing may be trendy these days, but the only internal routing to be found on the Megatrail is for the dropper post and a portion of the rear derailleur housing. Otherwise, everything is cleanly routed along the top of the down tube, where there's also room to mount a water bottle. A Syntace 12x142 thru-axle is used to secure the rear wheel, a system that uses a pinch bolt on the drive side to hold the derailleur hanger in place along with the sleeve the axle is threaded into.

Suspension Design

Keeping with the theme of simplicity and low maintenance, the Megatrail relies on a linkage driven single pivot for its 150 or 160mm of rear travel. An anodized aluminum link connects the seat tube and the seat stays in order to allow Guerrilla Gravity to achieve their desired suspension characteristics, which in this case were enough support for pedaling without losing small bump sensitivity, and a gradual ramp up to avoid bottoming out on big hits. Enduro Maxx cartridge bearings are used throughout, and the majority of the rear suspension hardware can be accessed and removed from the non-drive side.

Changing the bike's geometry is achieved by removing rear shock bolt, sliding the shock up or down to the desired position (there is a groove on the inside of the swingarm that makes it easier to quickly guide the shock into place) and then reinserting the bolt and tightening everything down again. Trail mode uses the top mounting hole and gives the Megatrail 150mm of travel, a 66.5° angle, and a 13.2” bottom bracket height, while Gravity mode uses the lower position bumps the travel to 160mm, slackens the head angle to 65.5° and drops the BB to a ground scraping 12.7”. The change between modes also affects the suspension's leverage curve, giving the bike a softer midstroke in Gravity mode. There's also another bonus setting called Super Gravity - this one is possible if the shock is mounted using the two lower holes, and is claimed to give the bike the firmer suspension feel of Trail mode, but with the geometry and travel of Gravity mode.

“Long and low” might be a fashionable phrase to toss around regarding a bike's geometry, but when it comes to the Megatrail that phrase is entirely true. With a reach of 451mm and a wheelbase of 1186mm, Guerrilla Gravity's size medium has dimensions that are on par or longer than what most companies call a size large. Speaking of large, the size XL is worth mentioning for all the vertically gifted riders out there – there aren't many bikes currently on the market that will accommodate riders up to 6'8” tall.

Geometry

Changing the rear shock bolt position adds or subtracts 10mm of travel along with altering the BB height and head angle.

For how plush the Megatrail feels on the descents (more on that later) I was pleasantly surprised by the bike's climbing abilities, especially with the DBinline shock flipped into Climb mode and the Stage fork's compression cranked up. With those settings in place there's minimal bob, and as long as you can keep powering down on the pedals the Megatrail will chug along, grinding up and over whatever rocks and roots come its way. Granted, this isn't a bike that will be winning XC races anytime soon, but for what it is – a stout and slack all-mountain machine – it gets the job done without a fuss. Even with the rear shock fully open there's minimal pedaling induced movement, an impressive feat considering the relative simplicity of the single pivot suspension layout. For the sake of comparison, I'd place its performance during out of the saddle climbing ahead of Norco's Range, and on par with Specialized's Enduro 650B.

There's a particularly challenging (and sometimes infuriating) climb on one of the trails that I regularly use for testing, filled with interwoven roots that are just off-camber enough to stack the deck against getting through them without a dab or two. On the Megatrail, its longer wheelbase proved to be beneficial here, keeping the rear wheel from spinning out even when shod with a semi-slick Rock Razor tire. The stretched out wheelbase does mean a little extra muscle and planning is required to get it through really tight switchbacks, but it didn't take long to get accustomed to the bike's handling demands. Regarding fit, at 5'11" I typically ride a size large, but based on Guerilla Gravity's sizing recommendations I went with a medium, which ended up being a good fit for both climbing and descending. With the Megatrail its best to concentrate on the reach numbers when deciding what size to choose, otherwise there's the risk of ending up with a bike that's simply too big.

Most of my time climbing was spent with the bike in 150mm 'Trail' setting, but I did try tackling a few climbs in 'Gravity' mode to see how much of a difference that geometry change made. That experiment went about how I'd expected – the front end felt more raked out and had a tendency to wander on the steeper sections of trail, and with the lower bottom bracket height careful pedal timing was required to keep from smacking on rocks and stumps. Switching to Gravity mode also increases the amount of sag in the rear shock, which makes using the Climb switch more of a necessity.

Once gravity takes over, the extra effort that's required to get the Megatrail to the top of a hill is quickly forgotten, replaced by the desire to see just how far the bike can be pushed.

Descending

Once gravity takes over, the extra effort that's required to get the Megatrail to the top of a hill is quickly forgotten, replaced by the desire to see just how far the bike can be pushed. Pretty damn far as it turns out, especially if the trail at hand is steep, mostly straight, and full of obstacles to plow through. Those are the conditions when the bike felt most at home, aided by the smooth yet supportive feel of the rear suspension. There was no wallowing or packing up to be felt, and the DBinline took care of every manner of impact without fail, whether it was touching down after launching off a man made jump, or charging hard through a chopped up section of trail.

What about that long reach number and sprawling chainstay length? There's no denying that this is a lot of bike, and running a short stem is required to take full advantage of the roomy front center, but the extra length provides increased stability at speed, as well as placing the rider in a very balanced position between the two wheels, making it easier to get the rear end around sharp turns than those numbers would suggest. That's not to say that you'll be able to effortlessly navigate through ultra-tight switchbacks, but with enough advance planning the Megatrail can work its way through twisty trails without being a burden. On less constricting corners, there's a smooth and stable feeling that's reminiscent of what carving a heel side turn across a glassy lake on a wakeboard feels like, with more traction the harder you push, and the faster you go. It's only when the speed drops that cornering suffers slightly, but for some riders that handling change will serve as extra encouragement to keep it pinned.

One quibble I have with the frame geometry is that the standover height did feel a little tall at times, and for riders that feel like tossing in a mid-trail bar spin (a maneuver that's unfortunately missing from my limited bag of tricks), without a healthy stack of spacers under the stem and higher rise bar, the brake levers will contact the top tube at the 90° mark. According to Will Montague, Guerrilla Gravity's president, the decision to go with a taller top tube on the medium was to make room for a water bottle - the small has more standover height, but also can't accept a bottle. The combination of a longer rear end and taller standover does makes the Megatrail feel slightly less maneuverable when pitted against a bike like Kona's Process 153, which also has a longer front center, but shorter chainstays and an extra low standover that gives it a low, ground hugging feel. That being said, this bike can certainly go toe-to-toe with the 153 when it comes to its capabilities in technical terrain.

The Megatrail in its natural habitat - steep, rough and raw.Rider: Mark Allison

Travel Modes

I'm a fan of the 'set and forget' approach when it comes to bike geometry, but I still made sure to give all three available travel modes a fair shake during my time with the MegaTrail, even on rides when it was pissing rain hard enough that the last thing I felt like doing was digging for a tool in my pack and playing with shock bolts. After trying the various geometry permutations, Trail mode ended up as my preferred setting for both climbing and descending. The steeper (yet still relatively slack) 66.5° head angle and slightly reduced travel made the bike feel more maneuverable, and given the near-bottomless feel of the 150mm of rear suspension I never found myself missing the extra 10mm of squish available in the Gravity modes. Jumping felt better in the Trail setting as well, due to the more supportive mid-stroke that this position creates.

I know there are riders out there that firmly believe you can never have too much travel, but on all but the absolute steepest trails the Gravity setting made the bike feel a little unwieldy, requiring a greater helping of body language for quick maneuvers than I wanted to serve up. Unless the start of the Megavalanche is in your backyard, it's likely Trail mode will provide enough travel for most situations, including trips to the bike park or shuttling DH trails. The fact that the Trail setting worked so well did make me wonder if Guerrilla Gravity could shave a little weight off the frame by eliminating the adjustable geometry. 150mm of travel may not seem like enough for some riders, but there are certain bikes out there that can't be pigeonholed into a riding category simply because of their amount of travel, and the Megatrail is another bike to add to that list.

Business up front, and a party in the back - the Magic Mary / Rock Razor combo dishes out the good times.

The component kit on the Megatrail is well sorted, creating a bike that's ready for hard riding right out of the box.

Component Check

• Schwalbe Magic Mary / Rock Razor tires: Longevity might not be the Magic Mary's strong suit, but it has performance in spades, and pairing it with the semi-slick Rock Razor in the back is a recipe for a ridiculous amount of fun on the trail. The meaty front tire provides gobs of traction and cornering support, taking up the slack for the rear tire as it goofs off and gets sideways (in a good way) at every opportunity. It was only on the wettest and greasiest of days when a little more rear tread would have come in handy, but otherwise this is a highly recommended combination.

• MRP Stage fork: MRP manufactures their Stage fork in Colorado, which is one of the reasons Guerrilla Gravity suggested giving it a try on our test bike over the RockShox Pike RC that's available for the same price. The overall feel of the fork was excellent, with a good balance of suppleness and support, except for one thing: the noise. The Stage takes the cake for being one of the noisiest forks I've ridden in quite some time - the rebound stroke sounds like Darth Vader having an asthma attack, and it's loud enough that other riders noticed it when I came up behind them on the trail. The company is aware that the fork isn't as quiet as it could be, and according to MRP's Noah Sears, they are "trying new chamfering, shaping, and other design ideas to reduce the operating noise." In addition, the QR thru-axle still isn't perfect, requiring more futzing around than I would have liked.

• SRAM Guide brakes: The Guide brakes themselves worked without any issues, a welcome trend we've been experiencing with SRAM's latest stoppers. The one thing I'd like to see is for them to come spec'd with metallic instead of organic pads. I know, organic pads are quieter, but in wet weather their performance pales in comparison to that of metallic pads.

• Cane Creek DBinline: We have a mixed track record with the DBinline, but the one that showed up on the Megatrail exhibited outstanding performance to go along with Cane Creek's trademark high level of adjustability. The Climb switch was easy to reach, and the increased low speed compression damping and slower rebound speed that results from flicking that lever made a noticeable difference. The downhill traction was excellent as well, keeping the bike hugging the ground when necessary, but with enough of a platform to keep the bike riding in the sweet spot of its travel.

Pinkbike's Take:

For some reason the word 'freeride' has fallen out of favor, relegated to the past with rickety stunts and drops to flat, replaced instead by new marketing terms like 'mini-DH' and 'enduro race' but I'd venture to say that the Megatrail is a prime example of a modern freeride bike, and I don't mean that in a negative way. Guerrilla Gravity have built a jack-of-all trades, as long as those trades include hucking, plowing through chunder, and general rowdiness. The fact that it's made in the United States is an added bonus, as is the amount of customization that's available when it comes to selecting the components to hang from the frame. It may not be the prettiest or the lightest bike out there, but the Megatrail is built to take a beating, and for riders who are constantly pushing their limits that's often what matters the most. - Mike Kazimer

About the ReviewerStats: Age: 32 • Height: 5'11” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 155lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None Twenty years deep into a mountain biking addiction that began as a way to escape the suburban sprawl of Connecticut, Mike Kazimer is most at home way out in the woods, carving his way down steep, technical trails. The decade he spent as a bike mechanic helped create a solid technical background to draw from when reviewing products, and his current location in the Pacific Northwest allows for easy access to the wettest, muddiest conditions imaginable.

Don't get me wrong, I will never, ever be able to afford one. But I was expecting to see a much higher price tag for a bike with a boutique, American built frame and what appears to me as a great parts spec.

I was just thinking the same: $2k for an aluminum single pivot is reasonable? Though I personally don't see why US made is a selling point, that's still $300 more than a Turner Burner, also US made, with much better suspension...

@alexhyland - Counterpoint - the only thing these guys make/source in the US that their competitors don't is the frame itself. All of the componentry is the same as anyone else's. That frame without shock costs $1900. Santa Cruz sells you a Heckler frame with a mid-level Fox shock for $600 less (both are single pivot frames of good quality, so that's a pretty reasonable comparison). OK, you have adjustable geometry on this, but that's still a lot more money. I'm all for manufacturing domestically - but the value equation doesn't seem to add up here.

I don't necessarily think the advantage the big Taiwanese frame builders have is purely cost. Yes, they save on labor (although this is skilled labor - the gap has narrowed), lower cost for infrastructure and compliance (although Taiwan is not nearly the environmental wasteland that China is willing to be in pursuit of low cost manufacturing). But then they have to pay for shipping, and there's cost to doing business across continents. I suspect their cost advantage has to do more with scale and supply chains being in place, similar to how it's developed in the tech industry. It would be great to have all that here in the US; I have a hard time seeing how that's going to happen.

Honest question here- Can someone explain how this bike is single pivot? My understanding of single-pivot is that you have just that, 1 point through which the pivot moves on a single bearing/bushing and is connected to the shock. I see this design as very close to a 4-bar link as it has pivots located on the seat-stays, as well as a pivot below the shock. Thanks!

@ryan83 - its a rate modified single pivot, so basically its got one main pivot (similar to a Heckler), but it also has that red ano link which allows for a lot more options from a kinematics standpoint compared to standard single pivot. The link allows for the wheel to move at a different rate than the shock, thus providing a multitude of tunable suspension characteristics. I think in order for it to be considered a "true 4-bar" (or "FSR") design the rear pivot was on the chain stay rather than the seat stay.

@g-42 - I agree that I think the some of the difference in price between the Megatrail and Heckler is economy of scale, but I'd also suggest the Megatrail is a much more refined bike with all the different geo/kinematics options, better overall geometry (in any setting), not being spec'd with a CTD Float, better suspension performance in terms of compromise between pedaling efficiency/bump compliance/braking force influence, etc...Not to say the Heckler is a terrible bike at $1,300, but an alum Nomad or Bronson would be a better comparison IMO.

As for the comment about the Turner Burner having a "much better suspension", that's an example of why the interweb is awesome. In a profoundly stupid, awesome way of course.

All the back and forth about cost, Al vs Carbon, etc. is just a bunch of buzzwords after owning this bike for a year. To sum up what the MegaTrail is to me, is a bike made by a group who love to shred bikes and it shows in the product. I ride mine, don't have to think about the latest trend or is my bike as good as the next dudes because you know what, it is.

It climbs as efficient or more than my old Intense Tracer, it is way stiffer, and rips down the trail with more confidence than most. The MegaTrail just does everything really well. You can go out and ride anything anywhere on this bike and not be disappointed…

@Weens - To say that the suspension performance of the Megatrail is inferior to that of a Turner Burner is a pretty bold statement; Please give some details comparing the performance of the Burner and the Megatrail based on your own personal experiences in riding both bikes. I have no doubt that the Burner is an excellent bike, and would not mind throwing a leg over one, but I would not dare to compare the performance of my Megatrial to a Burner based solely on the type of suspension design that is used on each.

I can compare, however, the Megatrail to an Ibis HDR, which I am sure differs from the Burner, but at least it is a DW-Link bike of similar intentions (which I am sure is the bases of your statement regarding the Burners superiority, because, after all, if the location of your pivot point does not vary during travel, the design can't possibly perform well).

My time on both bikes (XL Ibis HDR w/CCDBair, Large Megatrail w/CCDBair CS) has me feeling as though the Megatrail feels every bit as capable, if not more so, than the HDR when in the Trail mode (150mm of travel) in terms of being an aggressive trail bike; Then add to this the fact that in Gravity mode (160mm or travel, DH bike Geo) the Megatrial kills the HDR in the rough and in the corners while STILL being able to pedal (with diminished pedal clearance, mind you), all with a very minimal weight penalty.

Perhaps the folks at Guerilla Gravity should start looking for someone to work full time on the development of various marketing acronyms; I'll tell them that they should get a CRAP (creative research and acronym production) department up and going so as to convince the clueless masses to buy the bike. Personally though, I like their current approach better: Build awesome US made bikes that beat out some of the biggest names in the industry, have prospective customers ride said bikes, sell bikes to customers that buy them for the ride they provide, not the marketing propaganda that has been shoved down their throat.

When the Specialized patent still applied, it was referred to as "Faux bar". Not a single pivot as it has a different spring rate and will usually be more laterally stiff (have less bearing slop) than a single pivot frame.

@jackalope - regardless what you want to call it, modified single pivot, faux-bar, whatever, it is a single pivot. I think you are incorrect to say that the Heckler is less refined. Santa Cruz makes really nice bikes. They have squeezed every ounce of performance out of the single pivot. It has become very refined for what it is...and it's simplicity is it's biggest appeal.

I don't doubt its "refined for what it is", but I do seriously doubt it rides as well as the MT (I own a MT, and I've ridden a Heckler - albeit, a generation or 2 ago). I think a straight SP can be fine for certain applications, like say a DH bike in which pedaling efficiency is a secondary priority, but for a bike in which bump absorption/pedaling efficiency/brake interaction are all critical, a straight SP presents more compromises compared to rate modified SP (or dual short-link) design. And while I do agree SC makes some damn fine bikes, which is why I've owned 6 of them, my MT outperforms all the models I've had in every meaningful way with the only exception being frame weight compared to my Blur LTc.

single pivot will always be better IMO. changing frame bearings is stressful to me, im afraid im gonna break something everytime, only having to change two bearings makes it easier on me. i guess its not that big of a deal to me because i have fun no matter how many pivots a bike has.

Super stoked pb have started making comparisons in their reviews! I'm pretty sure a lot of people have been asking for this for a long time and it's definitely given me a better understanding of how this bike rides

ScottStedman: That little rectangular thing next to names is called a "flag". It represents the individual poster's "nationality". This might be hard to believe but there are actually other countries outside the U.S. of A.

@ScottStedman Pedantically correcting people's slang terminology isn't a great way to make friends or influence people. Protip: It kinda just makes you sound butthurt about something ridiculously trivial.

We are just trying to help correct some terminology the locals don't approve of. If you want to say Cali, San Fran, or Frisco; don't let me tell you what to do. But realize you will instantly label yourself a goon to the locals.

I rode my buddies 27.5 mega trail and fell in love with it! Such a badass bike that shreds wherever it goes. I knew the bike would shred on the decent so that wasn't a surprise when it did exactly that, but the bikes ability to climb really caught my attention! Despite its weight and size this thing climbed like a goat. It's no carbon xc bike but It certainly doesn't feel heavy and slow when pedaling up. If I wasnt a broke college kid, I'd have it. If you have the chance to ride it, do so.

I had the same experience when I borrowed my buddy's when my ride was in the shop. I instantly loved it. It just felt perfect. I had ridden a Mach 6 and a Stumpy Evo that week as loaners too and this was better IMO for my bike preferences.

I purchased one over the winter and built it up with a mix of parts I had. Honestly, the bike rips. I run it in the DH mode all the time and actually slacked it out further. Combined with a Talas 34 I can get the front end low enough to climb most single tracks I hit on a hardtail. It's an unbelievably fun bike, they stand behind their work, and it's supporting people building bikes here instead of China.

I've had mine for the better part of a year now. Can't say enough good things about it. So versitile. Climbs better than Kaz let's on. Perfect for all my local AZ trails, eats the rocks and drops for breakfast and I never have to worry about it breaking. 30lbs is light enough if you are not racing xc. Get it. You will be happy.

I now have 200+ miles and 20K + feet of climbing on my Large Megatrail (27.5" F/R) and I could not be happier about my purchase. For a guy my size (6'2" and 260 lb) it ticked all right boxes, the bike is truly a shredder and puts my previous XL Ibis HDR to shame when you factor in both modes (trail and gravity), and guess what, it built up to be only about .25-.5 lb's heavier depending on tire selection. I was having issues with flex in the rear end of the HDR: tire rub on the seat/chain stays, cracked and warrantied rear triangle, stress cracks in the front triangle that I ended up replacing on my own dime as they weren't "structural"; the Megatrail feels more than up to dealing with the stress that my size and riding style tend to put on frames/components.

Some might be thrown off by the long front-center, but I must say that with a 40mm stem the sizing on the Megatrail feels spot on for me, don’t knock it until you try it; I am climbing better on the Megatrial than I was on the HDR, while at the same time feeling MUCH more confident on the downs. I feel as though this review did not do this bike justice...yes, your BB is low in Gravity mode, which does hinder you on technical climbs, but that same low BB is other worldly on corners. Also, it so quick and easy to change modes mid-rid that it is not that big of a deal to ride up in Trail mode and switch to Gravity mode for the trip back down, all you need is a 6mm hex.

If a great bike just isn't enough for you, consider that working with the guys and gals at Guerrilla Gravity is as good as it gets in the industry. I was moving some parts from my Ibis build over to the Megatrail and as such only needed the frame/shock, fork, and chain-guide; the folks at GG were very accommodating and basically allow for a completely custom build, I was able to order only what I wanted/needed...pretty rad if you ask me. I worked at a Bike shop back when I bought my frame, and despite having access to EP pricing on Trek, Ibis and Intense frames, the Megatrail just did something for me that the others frames didn't.

Best handling bike on the market hands down in my opinion....its a shame they didnt ride it on gnarly enough terrain to take advantage of gravity mode......must say I laughed at the description of the 17.2" chainstays as "sprawling" haha

Wasn't finding fault..just feel that for super chunky rocks more suitable for a DH bike gravity mode works best..would have liked to hear a bit more about how you felt about the geometry differences between the two modes while descending though...I feel like the degree of headangle, significantly lower BB and more supple suspension make much more of a difference than 10mm of travel

@mikekazimer I agree with you. I have had my MT for a year now and have put in over 100 days easy on it, in all different terrain. When I first got the bike I would always put it in Gravity Mode any chance I got.... Now after a year I love trail mode, and never really change it unless I'm just shuttling Teton Pass. Trail mode carries speed better, and the firm mid-stroke is awesome for handling.

17.3" with new 26" (27.5") wheels, only 16.8" with classic 26" wheels! Seems very reasonable to me. This bike is bad ass and real near if not at the top of my "if I had to buy a frame tomorrow" list. 1.5" head tube, threaded bb, low, slack, can run 26" wheels, made in America. There is nothing not to like.

So happy to see this review. I just picked up my megatrail a week ago. I can say that I had been looking for a "trail" bike for a while had a specialized demo for DH but wanted a trail bike was always curious about a do it all bike. Rode the MT at trestle on the same trails I ride my demo on and thought goddamned this thing is awesome, so I rode a test bike on the local trails (buffalo creek) and thought you know this bike doesn't suck to pedal I love it and must have one. I test rode a ton,of bikes including the Santa Cruz Bronson and others and the megatrail blows everything out of the water. When it came time to build the bike will and the boys at guerrilla gravity were so helpful. I was able to ask them questions about every detail, pick out a custom color and put exactly what I wanted on my bike. Being able to actually see the shop where the bike was created is just the icing on the cake for me, shook the guys hand that welded my frame not a lot of folks can say that. Sure there are lighter bikes yeah there are cheaper bikes but for me to support a company that literally is in my back yard that can't be beat oh yeah and the bike kicks ass bronco orange. These guys are the real deal made in colorado!!!!! not made over seas and then shipped to colorado to plaster colorado flags all over the bike. If you want a simple badass bike look not further can't, the guys at GG ride what they make and for me that's the difference (also gravity mode)

Been on this bike for a year now, and have completely ditched my DH bike for super gravity mode, as well as my old stumpy for trail mode. Its really hard to describe this bike and its capabilities in a review, everyone who is interested (which everyone should be), needs to contact Matt or Will at the shop (ridegg.com) and set up a test ride. I've yet to hear someone say they prefer their old bike over the Megatrail after they test ride it, and from the other comments here it sounds like everyone else feels the same.

This bike just works, and it was designed to ensure the rider is having the most possible fun on the trail. Contact the shop for a test, or ask the local guy with one to try it out for a few runs; most likely their going to be more than happy to promote this bike after dealing with the great guys at the company and falling in love with the bike itself. There isn't a thing I would change on this bike, including the single pivot suspension design, it makes it lively and more fun on the trail compared to a VPP.

Hey, a review that gives specifics on how the bike stacks up in a particular performance aspect against named competitors - that's refreshing. I understand it's hard to do that u less you're running a direct comparison or have a solid way to benchmark it, but it's helpful to the reader. Thanks, keep it up!

This bike is amazing, I got mine last Fall. I had a Trek Remedy 9 and was looking for something beefier that felt solid when flying through rock gardens and doing jumps in the park. I also know that the majority of my time in the saddle is spent climbing, so the ability for the bike to climb was key. I haven't been disappointed. Try this bike on steep technical climbs, it's amazing. The seat tube angle and placement of the bottom bracket allow it to go up and over impossibly steep sections.

I do keep mine in trail mode, unless doing park riding. Riding down the wall at Deer Creek (I live in the Denver area), flying down Belcher/White Ranch, and bombing Hall Ranch all feel great in trail mode, the bike is just solid. That's what really sold me on the bike, it just felt (and looks) more solid than anything out there and even with a weight "penalty" over carbon frames, the geometry compensates and I can climb faster with the MT than I could with the Nomad I demoed, which was a few pounds lighter.

I have noticed the bottom bracket being a bit low, compounded by the long wheel base. You quick learn to adjust to it and having a hub with high engagement helps. Just be prepared for some pedal strikes while you get used to it. That being said, I wouldn't trade the stability and ability to rail corners for a higher BB.

If anyone wants to try out a Large in the Denver area, send me a message. I am in Los Angeles and Moab a fair amount with this bike as well.

I've ridden quite a few bikes, not all are bad but the Megatrail stands above for sure. The bike feels alive, wants to rip in either direction. Will straight slay any rock garden you put in front of it. It can easily be put in controlled drifts with the super stiff rear end. Manuals are quick to get up and stable. You can throw it into a corner and feel the bike dig into the ground just waiting to be shot out of it. It's a really fun bike to shred on. Freaking love my Megatrail

Love mine! My DH bike was collecting dust, I traded in my DH and trail bike in for a MT could not have been more happier. This is the closest thing to a do everything bike I've ever owned. Will was able to customize my build to get me the most balanced price vs performance build. Bike rips on everything! I've been riding pretty mellow singletrack and lift-assist DH and it's been great on both.

Had my Lrg MT for about 8 months and couldn't be happier! I tend to find "Super Gravity" is my go to setting. Full DH bike geo but with the firmer mid-stroke of trail mode. In the review he never really talked about his experience in SG mode. Yes for climbing the BB is really low but fast engaging hubs (Profile Elites) and some ratchet pedal action solves it easily. I've even cleared some climbs on this I've blown on other bikes, including Intense Tracer 2, Gen 1.5 Transition Covert and custom Ti 29er hardtail. If you can't clean it it's not the bikes fault.

About a year ago I replaced my 2010 medium 26" Specialized Enduro with the small 27.5 GG Megatrail and the bike is simply amazing. At my height I could have either gone with the small or the medium with a short stem. I chose small because I tend to ride a lot of old school trails that are very tight and twisty and I wanted my bike to be more nimble. For the majority of my riding I use Trail mode and usually switch to Super Gravity mode in the lead-up to an enduro race. In terms of day to day trail use I found the Megatrail to be better than my old enduro in every way except for weight. My old enduro weighed one pound lighter, however, I don't notice the weight difference at all. Also the bigger wheels/tires and larger brake rotors(my choice) resulted in the overall weight gain. Only on the worst climbs do I even bother using the climb switch on my DBCS. I think for a big bike it climbs very well. As people have already noted, descending is where this bike truly shines and to me that is the most important thing when choosing a bike. I'll suffer on a climb if it means I'm going to have one hell of a descent. When pointing down two words come to mind with the Mega, confidence inspiring. This bike soaks up everything I can throw at it, jumps, rock gardens, high speed off camber turns. A quick flashback is necessary to highlight this point. I got the bike ONE day before my first enduro race, I was still making adjustments and getting things just right in Plattekills parking lot the morning of practice. As soon as I hopped on the bike it felt familiar and natural. None of the features at Plattekill Mtn race seemed to phase the bike. The only thing I had to get used to was the lower BB is SG mode, I did clip my pedals several times later in the summer.

Really cool to see Guerrilla Gravity getting some recognition. I've been on a MegaTrail (MT) for a year now, and couldn't ask for a better bike. The owners over at RideGG really get it, they know exactly what they are doing when it comes to bikes. I have owned, ridden, and demoed many many bikes and the MT is hands down one of the best there is in its field. Everyone needs to give this guy a try, and support small companies who really have a passion and knowledge about what they are doing. GO OUT AND DEMO ONE!

Mad props to the Guerilla Gravity crew, they created something that just is AWESOME!

I love my Megatrail! Sold a Bronson C to get one. Enjoyed working with the folks at GG to spec every detail; the bike was setup and delivered exactly as ordered. The Megatrail is playful, a blast to ride, and a surprisingly good climber. I love its lines and geometry and can't help but smile every time I climb on.

Beyond the bike, Guerrilla Gravity is a great company. They helped me get exactly what I wanted with my bike. I had already built wheels and wanted to use the stem/handle bar, cranks/pedals, and brake calipers/levers from my old bike. So they were more than willing to send me just what I needed. I could call them up anytime and get advice on how I should set things up (mine was a beta so there wasn't a manual). Also if I did have a problem I know these guys will stand behind their bike (a year and several races later and nothing has broken).

Question I have for all you MT owners is about the rear shock. I'm hoping to get my Megatrail in about a week or so. Tried it, loved it, ordered it, picked my custom color, been waiting oh so patiently....I went with the CC Inline, but after reading this review that just came out: blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2015-guerrilla-gravity-megatrail/2I'm rethinking, might switch to the RS Monarch Plus before they ship it. I put a Monarch Plus on my SC 5010c and it was a Bazillion times better than the Fox EVO CTD that was on there before. I really like the shock, but not sure how well it plays with the MT suspension.So what's the word? For you guys riding the MT with the Inline, how does it handle? Is it noodly in the mid-stroke like this guy says? I'm pretty much the same stats as this guy, 155lbs 5'-8". Don't do pure downhill, the bike will mostly be my all mountain bike with a few days a year at the bike park. Anyone tried the Monarch Plus? Can you compare the two?Thanks for your feedback. So Stoked to get this bike.

I had an inline on mine. I found I needed a volume spacer in it but otherwise it was good with the recommended settings from GG and 11mm of sag in gravity mode. I'm a bit frustrated with Cane Creek at the moment as they won't sell me the air can tool and feel that end users shouldn't be able to remove, clean or lube the air can between full rebuilds. I've got a bikeco shock on there now and it is running great. If I were you I'd either go db air cs or monarch plus if you like to be able to perform basic service on your bike.
I have had the rub on the seat stay on hard g-outs with the inline and gravity mode but have not experienced it with other shocks. If I could get into the air can I could easily solve the bottom out issue too but I'm not qualified so whatever...

I have the monarch plus on my Megatrail and love it, I'm 230lbs so the CC inline was out for me but I prefer the simplicity of the Monarch over the CCDBairCS on the Megatrail, it pedals so well I haven't needed the extra dials. since the inline and the monarch plus are at the same price point on the megatrail builder i would say it's always nice to have the extra beef of a piggyback shock for those "oh sh*t" moments.

i just got back from riding the Inca Avalanche (just got home 5 minutes ago and yes the first thing i did was log on to Pinkbike!) on my Mega and i have to say Goddamn I love my bike! i couldn't have picked a better steed for the riding in Peru. i ran it in super gravity mode all week and it killed! the monarch + out back and Pike in the front performed flawlessly, held air all week despite being ridden from 15,000 ft down to around 8,000 ft and kept consistent performance regardless of elevation. the geometry of the bike handled everything I threw at it, from singletrack to scree fields and Inca steps the bike just ate up the terrain and had me pushing harder on each consecutive run!

bottom line, if you want a bike that shreds downhill like a DH race rig but can still pedal all day you'll be hard pressed to find a bike as perfect as the Megatrail, and the crew at Guerrilla Gravity are second to none in terms of service!

Going from Gravity to Trail mode does more to the Geo of the bike than it does to the travel. No mention of the 1 degree slacker HA or .75" lower BB or the more linear shock rate. It does drastically alter how the bike feels.

It's in the Suspension Details section: "Trail mode uses the top mounting hole and gives the Megatrail 150mm of travel, a 66.5° angle, and a 13.2” bottom bracket height, while Gravity mode uses the lower position bumps the travel to 160mm, slackens the head angle to 65.5° and drops the BB to a ground scraping 12.7”. The change between modes also affects the suspension's leverage curve, giving the bike a softer midstroke in Gravity mode."